Mr Yarrell's History of British Fishes. 387 



tions of tlie species which claimed existence in the seas and rivers 

 of our islands, was, in 1835, anxiously called for.* 



Happily, we can now introduce a work which will supply this 

 vacancy ; but in doing so, it were ungrateful not to remember and 

 mark the debt we owe to the genius of Thomas Bewick, for certain- 

 ly his volumes created the taste and demand, which is now so pre- 

 valent for similar productions. The felicity of expression which 

 pervaded all the figures of that artist, and the fidelity to nature 

 with which they were drawn, won their own way, and in a short 

 period diffused more taste for, and knowledge of, British ornitho- 

 logy, than the more expensive or beautifully illustrated publica- 

 tions of our countrymen. Their price was moderate, and they 

 were understood by the young ; we have, night after night, in our 

 early days, watched the arrival of the gamekeeper, whose orders 

 were to bring in every thing, and, Bewick on our knee, compared the 

 contents of the bag with his living pictures. Winter was a glorious 

 time ; hard frost, and less cultivation than at present, rendered wild 

 fowl abundant ; and some species were frequent, which now are to 

 be seen in the vicinity only at intervals far and wide between. 

 These books gave a general love for the subject ; annotations and 

 comparisons were made, which grew into new discoveries and ma- 

 terials for new Faunas; and we foresee the time when the work 

 before us will produce similar effects. Fishes are already sought 

 for (and have been found) which are not in " Yarrell's work." It 

 is, indeed, a " worthy work." Wood-cutting in Bewick's day 

 was but in infancy ; and had it not been touched by his own hand 

 and peculiar spirit, it might have yet remained so. Here we have 

 it in its matured state; and, looking to the volumes with the 

 eye of an artist, we should say the art is almost complete. But 

 we must offer our congratulations to the public upon another part. 

 The typography and wood-cutting we look upon as the shell ; let us 

 see if the Mollusc will grace its covering ? It is a little more unob- 

 trusive, but more minute examination displays its structure. The 

 letter-press of Mr Yarrell's volumes has sufficient of popularity mixed 

 with its texture to render it easily understood by all readers, while 

 the dignity of science has been throughout maintained. The descrip- 



* In omitting the title of Mr Jenyns's useful manual, we are not unaware of 

 its importance, hut it appeared nearly contemporary with Mr Yarrell's work, 

 and the notes of that gentleman were confessedly much employed in it. Nei- 

 ther are we blind to the new era commencing with the works of Cuvier and Va- 

 lenciennes, and Agassiz ; but their importance, though lending an aid to local 

 Faunas, will be much more universally diffused. 



